{"id":127,"date":"2016-01-25T11:32:56","date_gmt":"2016-01-25T11:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foreo.com\/mysa\/?p=127"},"modified":"2022-03-03T09:15:13","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T09:15:13","slug":"how-stop-your-man-washing-his-face-bar-soap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foreo.com\/mysa\/how-stop-your-man-washing-his-face-bar-soap\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean Up Your Act: The Ultimate Guide to Washing Your Face"},"content":{"rendered":"

To the unaided eye, the world looks like a pretty clean place to live. Sure, there\u2019s a bit of dirt and mud here and there, and the occasional spot of garbage, but for the most part, everything seems more-or-less hygienic. In fact, we tend to adopt an \u2018out of sight, out of mind\u2019 attitude towards cleanliness; if there isn\u2019t any visible dirt or grime on our skin, then we assume that we\u2019re probably OK.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that\u2019s not how the world works.<\/p>\n

Oftentimes, we don\u2019t think about the grime that we can\u2019t see, but these germs and bacteria are a part of everyday life. According to a 2015 study, the average American household contains more than 2,000 different species of fungus, and approximately 7,000 species of bacteria. And the other places that we frequent throughout the day aren\u2019t faring any better. It\u2019s been suggested that common office objects such as computer keyboards, telephone receivers, mouse devices, and even desk surfaces contain more harmful bacteria than public restroom toilet seats. And schools are even worse<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Skin: The Thin Fleshy Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The point is that the world is covered in bacteria and germs, and unless you live in a vacuum-sealed containment suit, the only thing keeping those microscopic nasties from setting up shop inside your body is your skin. It does this by forming a barrier of close-knit cells (called keratinocytes) too dense to allow bacteria to pass through, effectively creating a \u2018shield\u2019 against infection. It also secretes an oily substance called sebum<\/em>, which helps keep the skin moist and healthy, and raises the skin\u2019s acidity to the point where many kinds of harmful bacteria are unable to survive. Should harmful bacteria penetrate the surface of the skin, langerhans cells release chemicals that signal to white blood cells that an infection is imminent, so that the immune system can take care of the problem before it becomes too severe. But while skin generally does a fair job at keeping the most harmful intruders at bay, it\u2019s far from perfect. A number of factors can have an impact on how well your skin fights off infection, such as temperature, diet, and personal hygiene.<\/p>\n

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Hygiene Down the Drain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Among the steps that you can take to help minimize the chances of viral and bacterial infection, good hygiene may be the most simple and<\/em> the most effective. With little more than soap, water, and about thirty seconds of scrubbing, you can reduce the spread of germ by up to 80%. But despite how uncomplicated the process is, most of us just aren\u2019t aren\u2019t doing our part. A study performed by Michigan University found that only 5% of people wash their hands properly. The rest are either not washing correctly, not washing long enough, or simply not washing at all. And, if so many people are coming up short when it comes to keeping their hands clean, just think about how much less often we wash our faces.<\/p>\n

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Face the Facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most of us think of face washing as a normal part of most morning\/evening routines. However, the truth is that a large number of individuals neglect to wash their faces as they should. For example, gentle facial exfoliation is a proven method by which deep-seated bacteria and dirt\u2014the kind that is very difficult to be removed with soap and water alone\u2014can be eliminated during washing. Despite this, a large percentage of the population forgoes regular exfoliation. In fact, only about 50% of women wash their faces regularly, and as many as 80% fail to wash their faces properly. In all likelihood, this is because most of us just don\u2019t understand the importance of facial hygiene. Keeping a clean face is important for a number of reasons\u2014here are a few of the most relevant:<\/p>\n